ACTING as a committee of the whole, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Misamis Oriental is expected to forward to the House of Representatives a resolution asking the lower chamber to investigate alleged illicit transport of quarry materials last year.
During their second meeting January 22, the committee led by SP member Roy Aniscal decided to forward their findings to another body which has the power to forcefully summon individuals.
“Diri sa amo sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan, puwede ra kami manginvite ug makapatawag sa amo gusto ipatawag nga resource person. But we cannot enforce it because we do not have the power to issue contempt to anyone,” Aniscal frustratingly said in an exclusive interview with BusinessWeek National.
Aniscal and his colleagues were disappointed that their invitation to the Provincial Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (PLENRO) fell on deaf ears.
“Na-receive tuod nila among invitation pero wala man gani sila nagpadala og feedback kung nganong wala sila katunga,” Aniscal said.
The second hearing took place in the afternoon of January 22.
It was SP member Dexter Yasay who rallied his colleagues to submit their findings to the House of Representatives through second district Rep. Yevgeny Vincente Emano.
The matter in question was the transport of quarry materials (specifically armor rock) from the shoreline of Medine to the waters off Carrascal, Surigao del Sur last October using a barge.
Aniscal said that even though the quarry operator is legitimate, he could not present a transport permit before the committee.
Aniscal also revealed that a councilor from Talisayan town was the broker of the said deal.
The committee is expected to present their findings before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan plenary next week.
